SKATING LESSONS Learn To Skate
Skate Dakotah!’s pro instructors tailor group lessons to the individual skater’s needs. After an on-ice assessment during initial lessons, the skater is placed in the most appropriate class available. Here, the instructor teaches elements of skating appropriate for the class skill level. Skaters earn badges as they complete each set of skills. Each class level requires completion of several badges, so classes must be taken more than once. Skills taught in each class build on skills learned previously. The curriculum is designed to allow the skater to achieve one badge at each session skated. Our goal is for skaters to have fun while learning to skate in a safe and pleasant environment.
Skate Dakotah! lessons are one hour long: 30 minutes of instruction 30 minutes of practice
Only enrolled skaters will be allowed in the practice area.
Registration Deadline: Tuesday, January 1 Call Matt Mathiasen at 952.496.6864 or Kate Charboneau at 952.496.6868 for information. To register, call 952.445.9400. Fee:
$70/Member $90/Non-Member
Parent & Little Skater
SKATING LESSONS
(PALS) Age 3
Ages 4+
Cosmic Skater
Crystal Freestyle II
Five Badges Earned: Lollipop–1 Lemon Drop–4 Candy Cane–2 Jaw Breaker–5 Peppermint Twist–3
Prerequisite: Completion of Critters Can Skate curriculum or Racer Rabbit badge. Previous lessons required.
Prerequisite: Completion of Crystal Freestyle I curriculum, Onyx badge, or equivalent skills. Previous lessons required.
Skills Taught: Fall, get up, stand, walk, march, glide, table top, frog hop, beetle, backward wiggle, stop, and dip. All skills are taught initially with the adult assisting the child, and then with the child skating independently.
Six Badges Earned: Earth–1 Sun–2 Moon and Stars–3
Seven Badges Earned: Amethyst–1 Ruby–5 Sapphire–2 Diamond–6 Topaz–3 Aurora Borealis–7 Emerald–4
Goal: Children become independent from parent on the ice. January 21–March 4 (Mondays) Opt. 1: Lesson Time: 6:40–7:10pm Practice Time: 6:10–6:40pm January 19–March 2 (Saturdays) Opt. 2: Lesson Time: 11:10–11:40am Practice Time: 10:40–11:10am
Critters Can Skate
Ages 4+
Five Badges Earned: Brave Beetle–1 Daring Dragon–4 Fantastic Frog–2 Racer Rabbit–5 Wiggly Worm–3
Intermediate freestyle skating
Wind–4 Fire–5 Ice–6
Skills Taught: Forward glide, stroke, crossovers, one-foot snowplow stop, T-stop, backward swizzles, one-foot glide, pumps, three-turns, forward lunge and spirals, pivots, one-foot spin (four revolutions), waltz jump, and forward inside and outside edges. Goal: Skater demonstrates the form of the elements, including correct body position and edge use. January 21–March 4 (Mondays) Lesson Time: 7:40–8:10pm Practice Time: 7:10–7:40pm
Crystal Freestyle I
Beginning freestyle skating
Prerequisite: Completion of Cosmic Skater curriculum, ice badge, or Skills Taught: Fall, get up, stand, walk, equivalent skills. march, glide, table top, frog hop, snowplow Previous lessons required. stop, beetle, backward wiggle, stop, dip, two-foot spiral, scooter, pivots, forward Four Badges Earned: swizzles, airplane turns, backward skate, Turquoise–1 Amber–3 forward skate into one-foot glide, and Coral–2 Onyx–4 bunny hops. Skills Taught: Backward inside and Goal: Skater demonstrates the idea outside edges, waltz jump and one foot of each element, including each step spin-off backward crossovers, spiral necessary to complete it. into lunge, half-flip, half-lutz, split and toe-loop jumps, perimeter stroking, January 21–March 4 (Mondays) mohawk, inside spread eagle, and tenOpt. 1: Lesson Time: 6:10–6:40pm step footwork. Practice Time: 6:40–7:10pm Goal: Skater demonstrates presentation Opt. 2: Lesson Time: 6:40–7:10pm of elements, including correct form and Practice Time: 6:10–6:40pm power, using entrance and exit positions. January 19–March 2 (Saturdays) Opt. 3: Lesson Time: 10:40–11:10am January 21–March 4 (Mondays) Practice Time: 11:10–11:40am Lesson Time: 7:40–8:10pm Opt. 4: Lesson Time: 11:10-11:40am Practice Time: 7:10–7:40pm Practice Time: 10:40-11:10am
Skills Taught: Single salchow, mazurka, half loop, stag and flip jumps, jump combination: footwork; back, changefoot, attitude, blur, and camel spins and spin combination; waltz three, power three, waltz eight, back inside three and forward outside three turns, and edge pulls. Goal: Skater presents elements, including correct form and power, using entrance and exit positions. January 21–March 4 (Mondays) Lesson Time: 7:40–8:10pm Practice Time: 7:10–7:40pm
Hockey Trax II
Adult Hockey
Prerequisite: Completion of Hockey Trax I, Breezer Bobcat badge, or equivalent skills. Previous lessons required.
Goal: Adult skater learns beginning through advanced hockey skating skills. Skater progresses at individual pace within a class.
Hockey skating skills for second- and third-year Mites or skaters with skill development of Breezer Bobcat badge
Four Badges Earned: Referee Raccoon–6 Goalie Gray Wolf–7 Hat Trick Hedgehog–8 Face-Off Fox–9
January 21–March 4 (Mondays) Lesson Time: 7:40–8:10pm Practice Time: 7:10–7:40pm
Skills Taught: Focus on edge work and increased strength for power skating.
Adult Freestyle
Goal: Skater demonstrates form of the elements, including correct body positions, balance, speed, and edge work.
Hockey Trax III
Hockey skating skills for fourth-year Mites through Squirts or skaters with skill development of Face-Off Fox badge.
Hockey Trax I, II, III
Prerequisite: Completion of Hockey Trax II, Face-Off Fox badge, or equivalent skills. Previous lessons required.
Hockey Trax I
Five Badges Earned: Power Play Panther–10 “Cool Moe” Hawk–11 Hockey Turn T-Rex–12 Breakaway Badger–13 Slap Shot Shark–14
January 21–March 4 (Mondays) Opt. 1: Lesson Time: 7:10–7:40pm Practice Time: 7:40–8:10pm
Ages 4+ Hockey skating skills for first-time hockey skaters through Rookie Mites. Five Badges Earned: Brave Bear–1 Snowy Owl–4 Mighty Muskie–2 Breezer Bobcat–5 Ice Otter–3 Skills Taught: Elementary skating skills, back c-cuts, hockey turns, and one-foot snowplow stops left and right. Goal: Skater demonstrates each element and each step necessary to complete it.
Skills Taught: For ward skating, crossovers, back c-cuts, power turns, edge work, and drills.
Skills Taught: Intense edge work, fine-tuning of body positioning while doing elements, and increasing speed through turns. Goal: Skater demonstrates presentation of elements, including correct body positions, balance, edge work, speed, power, and agility.
Skills Taught: Basic skating skills for stroking, backward skating, footwork, and spins.
Goal: Adult skater learns beginning through advanced recreational figure skating skills. Skater progresses at individual pace within a class. January 21–March 4 (Mondays) Lesson Time: 7:40–8:10pm Practice Time: 7:10–7:40pm